Being a Surrogate: Tips for Managing 3 Unexpected Symptoms

Being a surrogate is a wonderful experience that leaves gestational carriers with lasting fond memories. There’s the first little flutter kicks, the excited looks on the faces of the intended parents the first time they hear a heartbeat, and that final moment where the little one arrives. These are the treasured moments that everyone looks forward to, and most love talking about, but there’s a lot more to being a surrogate than this. There will be times where you’re a little shocked by your own body and the bizarre symptoms that sometimes accompany pregnancy. This is about how to cope with those often unspoken moments.

1) You’re Bursting (with Gas!)

During pregnancy, hormones can slow your digestive system to a crawl and create some awkward moments on elevators. When gas strikes, there’s not much you can do but let it go, but there may be some things you can do to help prevent it before you earn the affectionate name of Pumbaa. For starters, avoid the things you know will cause gas, such as beans and broccoli. Other lesser-known offenders, like cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts should be nixed if gas becomes an ongoing problem, too. You can also help your digestive system by drinking lots of water and making sure your diet is high in fiber.

2) Your Legs Look Like a Child’s Artwork

As pregnancy continues, you may start to notice blue lines appear all over your legs. When they’re smaller, they’re referred to as spider veins, and larger ones are called varicose veins. Although these are common in pregnancy, they’re not a sign of health, though they’re not overly dangerous either. They appear because blood flow has been cut off and the veins have become distended as blood pools in the stretched-out areas. Once the veins are pulled out of shape, they don’t ever go back to normal on their own. Although you can’t do anything about the increased blood volume that contributes to it, you can make sure you’re propping your legs up, moving around a lot, and wearing special socks to prevent them. If you start to notice blue or purple lines, be sure to talk to your doctor about preventing more. If you catch them early and/or stop their progression, you can have the cosmetic issues corrected after the baby is born with a simple outpatient procedure.

3) Mucus, Mucus Everywhere!

Other hormonal changes can lead to swelling and irritation of the mucus membranes. This may mean that you’re sneezing or blowing your nose all the time. It can also make you snore at night. And, if you have those problems, chances are you’ll also have a lot more vaginal discharge too. While the hormonal changes that cause mucus overflow are good for a healthy pregnancy, they can leave you feeling sick or less than fresh. To help manage the sinus symptoms and snoring, you can use saline nose sprays and humidifiers. Antihistamines can sometimes help as well, and drinking lots of water can help if you’re feeling stuffy or if the mucus is especially sick. There isn’t much you can do about the secretions down below, but wearing a liner will help.

Interested in Being a Surrogate?

It probably sounds funny to invite women to be a surrogate after covering bizarre pregnancy symptoms, but most gestational carriers love being pregnant and know these oddball issues pass in the blink of an eye. They’re also a very small price to pay for making someone’s dreams come true. If you’re interested in being a surrogate, we’d love to hear from you. Please take a moment to review our surrogacy guidelines and contact us today.